Manila

After 2 years, I'm back again to Manila on a work trip. This time round, I did not have much of a luxury to spend my time at Boracay or to explore other parts of Luzon island.

I spent most of my hours; first in Alabang, then Tanay and finally of course, Makati. Of all months of the year, by unforeseen arrangements, I'd have to travel to Philippines; just when the most unfortunate have happened to Japan. Somehow, many people have this guts feeling that after this incident, many more hibernating volcanoes will once again go active. Perhaps even the Mayan cannot predict what impact will this bring if for real that such an incident will occur.

Gosh...
Anyways, here I am, sound and kicking and writing this piece on my journey back to Kuala Lumpur because I can't freaking take a nap...

I had finished reading my Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and i don't feel like finishing my book of China and the West. It's pretty heavy at the moment when my mind is unease about tomorrow...the lists of things that I have to think about.

That aside, I'd want to write...about my thoughts on this trip and how lucky I am to be born a Malaysian even if I hate the fact that we are - classified as the non 'Sons of the land' entity. Yes and to be precise, I shall use the word loathe because I was issued a summon of a darn RM 100 for violating the traffic law of parking by the yellow line. Damned, car owners don't get summoned on a Friday for whatsoever reasons especially when they park near a certain religious building!

ANYWAYS, I am still a lucky citizen despite all the unjust treatments (at least, I'm given the chance to vote and I'm definitely voting against the construction of a nuclear plant in East Peninsula).

So, Manila...it feels to me that every corner has got:
1. Starbucks (practically everywhere with a frequency way much higher than that in kl),
2. Mini
3. SM (they intended to litter every corner of Manila by living to their motto of 'SM is 30mins of drive from one another'
4. Mercury drug store
5. Jollibee
6. very affordable and good massage spa...and I absolutely love their 24hrs home-massage service:)

and, in an obvious sense, I felt that there are only a handful of middle class families around. I travelled once again around Manila and I took note of the long expressways, fantastic drivers as well as the number of low cost buildings (is squatter area a better term?) scattered everywhere en route towards the city and also very beautiful and prestigious looking neighbourhoods.

Like any other developing third world countries, the drivers in this part of the island are superb. A driver can be a good distance away from you but within a turn of your head, that car can be instantaneously 5 inches away from your car! Therefore I came to a conclusion that most drivers with a Philippines driving license are i) very agile, ii) can take on any hostile road conditions. Perhaps, if Earth survives 2012, United Nations should organize a friendly driving competition specifically for drivers from Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Manila and Paris (maybe)..

Haha...yea...so that's the world adjacent to Makati. Once you enter Makati, the constructions change dramatically. Low cost houses give way to high rise service apartments and posh looking restaurants which only the upper class citizens or foreigners can afford. You are there...there are only a handful of middle class citizens and corruption is no doubt rampant but that's life. I'm quite amazed that at this rate, it's research and development sector is still able to keep up.

I guess I'll return on another day for work...and till then, I'll end my journal here. I'm home sweet home.

If I do return, I hope I'll be able to visit intramunos and someday when the ocean is less restless- Pahlawan.